Hemoglobinometer



Sept. 26, 1950 w. L. GOULD 2,523,758

HEMOGLOBINOMETER Filed D90. 30, 1944 INVENTOR. l l/i/flbml. Goa/d A7701? EY color scale,

, asa haemo'globinometer.

Patented Sept. 26, 1950 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,523,758 HEMOGLOBINOMETER William L. Gould, Albany, N. Y. Application December 30, 1944,.Serial No. 570,735

My invention relates to improvements in naemoglobinometers 'for measuring the haemoglobin in the blood.

The method most commonly employed in determining the haemoglobin in the blood involves, the taking of an actual sample of the blood'and the matching of this sample with a predetermined Usually the comparison is made by transillumination of the blood sample and a translucent chart or scale of graduated color intensity. Ineither case an actual sample of the blood must be drawn from the body and while this is not too painful an operation there is, nevertheless some pain connected with making the puncture through which the sample is obtained.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved means for measuring the haemoglobin in the blood of an individual without the necessity of withdrawing an actual specimen of the blood. Another object is to provide a 4 Claims. (Cl. 88-14) Referring to the drawings: I represents the body or casing of. an

batteries and a lamp bulb 2 which may be lighted by pushing forward on the switch 3. Such flashlights are so well known to practically everyone 7 with the part shown generally at 6 in Fig, 1, and

simple, inexpensive apparatus which will function;

A. further object is'to provide'asmall, inexpensive attachment which is adapted for attachment to the body of an ordinary flashlight to forma haemoglobinometer for testing blood by my method, I

With these objects in view my invention includes the novel method of measuring the haemo globin hereinafter described, and the apparatus .whichxmay be used in performing my method and Fig. 4 is a developed view of the color scale.

The method which I employ to determine the haemoglobin in the blood of an individual is extremely simple and consists merely in comparing, by transillumination, the color of a convenient portion of the human body, such for example, as

-'-a finger, with the colors of a calibrated chart or scale. In other words, I transmit light from a given source simultaneously through a translucent color scale and through a portion of the body of the individual whose blood is to be measured, and

manipulate the color scale until it appears, by

the light transmitted therethrough, to be identical in color with that of the light transmitted through the finger.

which forms substantially an extension of the casing, a very practical haemoglobinometer may be formed.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and i my haemoglobinometer attachment for a flashlight comprises a'short metal tube I having arectangular cut-out portion or notch 8 extending in an axial direction in one side thereof. The tube 1 is preferably enlarged in diameter atone end as shown at 9 and, in any event, is provided with a female thread I!) adapted to cooperate v with the thread on the flashlight casing l which ordinarily cooperates with the reflector and lens- .containing portion of the flashlight.

of are preferably thin, as shown. The interior side wall of the tube 1 l is provided with a circumferential recess, and cemented or otherwise secured within the recess is the translucent color scale I3, here shown as divided into ten sections numbered by tens from 10 to 100. The color scale may be of paper and the sections thereon are colored and calibrated to indicate the percentages of haemoglobin in the blood. Thus the section 14 would indicate a haemoglobin content of 100% while the section [5 would indicate a content of only 10%.

The cylindrical tube 16 is adapted to fit within thetube H. At the outer end, the tube I6, which is shown as .turned from its position when assembled with tube 1, is provided with an outstanding peripheral flange IT with which the flange l2 on the tube H is adapted to run in contact when the parts are assembled. At the inner end. the cylinder I6 is reduced in diameter ordinary 1 flashlight which is understood to contain the usual and the exterior thereof is threaded, as shown at l8, to receive the nut l9. Thus, in assembling the parts, the tube "-3 is inserted in the tube H and the nut 19 is threaded on to the reduced portion of the cylinder l6 so that these parts are held in assembled relation; it being understood that, after the nut I9 is screwed tightly against the end 20 of the tube Hi, there is a little clearance between the nut and the end of the tube II so that the tube II can rotate with respect to the tube I6 after these parts have been assembled.

The tube I6 is preferably of opaque material and may be of wood or plastic, but it is provided with a transparent portion 2|, of Lucite or the like, forming a sort of Window therein adapted to register with the slot 8 in tube 1.

The tubes II and I6 assembled as described above are secured within the tube 1 by means of the screw 22 which passes through' an opening 23 in the tube 1 and sets against the nut l9. Thus, 'the tube I6 and the nut l9 are held stationary within the tube while the tube II is freely rotatable about the tube 16 and within the tube 1. When the device is assembled as shown in Fig.

-1 the light bulb Z of the flashlight projects through the passage 24 in the tube I6 and thus, when lighted, illuminates the interior of the tube 16.

To use the device the individual whose haemoglobin is to be measured inserts the end of his finger 25 in the tube 16 and presses the ball of the finger firmly against the window 2|. The color scale is then manipulated by turning the knurled flange l2 until the color of the light transmitted from the bulb 2 through the particular section of the color scale which is adjacent the window 2! appears of the same color as the light transmitted through the blood in the individuals finger, whereupon the percentage of haemoglobin in the the color scale.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment it is to be understood that the words which I have used are words of description rather than of limitation and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a haemoglobinometer, the combination with a flashlight including a casing and a light bulb, of means forming a tubular extension of said casing around said light bulb and having an opening in the side thereof adjacent said bulb, a tubular element rotatably mounted in said extension and provided with a translucent color scale thereon having circumferentially disposed blood may be read from sections indicating, when transilluminated, clifferent proportions of haemoglobin in human blood and adapted to be brought into registration with a portion of said opening; the balance of said opening being adapted to be covered by a finger inserted in said extension; whereby, said finger may be simultaneously transilluminated with the section of said scale in registration with said opening for color comparison.

2. A haemoglobinometer attachment for a flashlight comprising a tubular element adapted to fit over the end of a flashlight in place of the lens and reflector-containing portion of said flashlight and laterally to enclose the (light bulb of said flashlight; said element having an opening in the side thereof adapted to be positioned adjacent said bulb and to be partially closed by inserting a finger in said tubular element, and a rotatable color scale forming part of said tubular element and comprising translucent sections indicating various proportions of haemoglobin in human blood each adapted to be moved into registration with and to close that portion of said opening not closed by said fingers; whereby said finger and a section of said color scale may be simultaneously transilluminated by light from said bulb for color comparison.

3. A haemoglobinometer attachment for a flashlight comprising a first tubular element adapted to fit over the end of a flashlight casing in place of the lens and reflector-containing portion of said flash light and laterally to enclose the light bulb thereof, and having an opening in the side thereof, a second tubular element having a translucent portion in the side thereof secured within said first element with said translucent portion in registration with the opening in said first element, and a cylindrical, translucent color scale calibrated to indicate, when transilluminated by light from said bulb, the haemoglobin in human blood rotatably mounted between said tubular elements and having a circumferential portion thereof in registration with part only of the translucent portion of said second element; whereby a finger inserted within said tubular elements and pressed against the translucent portion of said second element adjacent said color scale may be simultaneously transilluminated with said color scale for comparison therewith.

4. A haemoglobinometer attachment for a flashlight having a light bulb in one end thereof; said attachment comprising two, relatively rotatable, telescopically-interfitted, tubular elements adapted to have a finger inserted therein,

- and adapted to fit over that end of said flashlight having the light bulb therein; one of said elements being translucent and provided with a cylindrical, translucent color scale calibrated to indicate, when transilluminated by light from REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 663,536 Fox et a1 M Dec. 11, 1900 1,629,609 Bader May 24, 1927 1,826,849 Walter Oct. 13, 1931 2,358,992 Millikan Sept. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain Dec. 1, 1939 

